NFL Draft Grades 2015: Analyzing Results and Classes That Help Teams Immediately

When grading an NFL draft, a lot has to be considered. How good were the players selected? Do they fill a need? Were they a good value where they were selected on the board? Did the team draft them to start right away or to develop them and bring them along slowly? 

All of those factors are weighed when grading a draft class, which I'll do below. But I also want to take a look at the three draft classes most likely to improve their respective teams immediately. I'm not talking about teams that selected the player who will be great in three years, I'm talking about teams that got a lot better in the short term.

Perhaps they filled a huge need or selected a player ready to make an instant impact. Either way, I'll take a look at three teams that took a step forward in 2015 with their draft. 

Results

Grades

Team	Grade	Notes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	A-	Jameis Winston has his question marks, namely off the field, but he has huge upside on it. This was the expected pick and the selection Tampa Bay had to make. It wasted no time solidifying the line in front of him, drafting two offensive linemen in the second round. Linebacker Kwon Alexander was a fantastic value in the fourth round.
Tennessee Titans	A-	Love Marcus Mariota but question the fit. The Titans must build a scheme to fit his unique skill set. If they do, Mariota could be special. Dorial Green-Beckham has major upside, but off-field issues make him a huge risk—lots of potential reward, however. Jeremiah Poutasi should help solidify the line. Running back David Cobb in the fourth round and receiver Tre McBride in the seventh were amazing values; each could become a solid offensive contributor.
Jacksonville Jaguars	A	The Jags needed a pure pass-rusher. They got one in Dante Fowler Jr. They needed an upgrade at running back. They got one in T.J. Yeldon. They bolstered the offensive line with A.J. Cann. Receiver Rashad Greene in the fifth and defensive tackle Michael Bennett in the sixth round were fantastic value picks. It's hard to knock this draft for the Jags.
Oakland Raiders	B+	Raiders get Derek Carr his go-to receiver for the next decade in Amari Cooper, whom some have compared to Reggie Wayne. He's the safest prospect in this draft and a special player who will be a huge hit in Oakland. Continued to improve by adding defensive lineman Mario Edwards and move tight end Clive Walford. Solid first two days for Oakland was followed by high-risk, high-reward picks in final four rounds.
Washington	C	Brandon Scherff is a good, tough player, but this high in draft? It feels like a slight reach, especially with talented defensive players on board. Will give Washington's O-line a bit more toughness and nastiness, however. Preston Smith was a good get in Round 2. Matt Jones is Roy Helu's replacement, though he was a reach in third round. Added two wideouts, two players for secondary and two O-linemen on Day 3, though no standout picks.
New York Jets	A	The Jets didn't need another interior lineman, but they won't be complaining after arguably the top talent in this draft fell to them in Leonard Williams. Devin Smith gives them a deep threat in the second round. Lorenzo Mauldin is yet another weapon to add to an already stacked defense. Bryce Petty in the fourth round was a steal, and while he's a project, he has a lot of upside and could eventually give Geno Smith a run for his money.
Chicago Bears	A-	Kevin White steps in as Brandon Marshall's replacement. He has huge upside and gives the team a dangerous option opposite Alshon Jeffery. Eddie Goldman in second round was a nice addition and should improve team's defensive line play. Hroniss Grasu will have a chance to compete for starting spot at center. Jeremy Langford, Adrian Amos and Tayo Fabuluje were excellent value picks on Day 3.
Atlanta Falcons	B	Atlanta went with high-upside players in this draft. Vic Beasley is an explosive pass-rusher, but he'll need to bulk up and get better against the run. Jalen Collins has high upside at corner but isn't without question marks. Tevin Coleman was a nice pick in the third round at running back and should be the favorite to start immediately. Justin Hardy and Grady Jarrett were nice third-day values.
New York Giants	B	Ereck Flowers was linked to the Giants leading up to the draft, so his drafting was not a huge shocker. Should help improve the offensive line if he pans out at left tackle. Maybe a slight reach but nothing drastic. Landon Collins was a great, great pick atop the second round even if Giants had to trade up to land him. He could be a difference-maker in that secondary. Continued nailing defensive picks in third round, stealing Owa Odighizuwa, who could be the next dynamic Giants pass-rusher. Added O-line, receiver and secondary depth on Saturday.
St. Louis Rams	B	Todd Gurley was the hardest pick on the board to grade. He's such a huge talent, arguably a top-five talent. But injury history combined with a deep running back class make this a questionable pick so high—could be special, though. Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown were much-needed additions to a porous offensive line. Sean Mannion could be quarterback of the future if Nick Foles doesn't pan out. The Rams added nice offensive line and defensive front seven depth on Saturday.
Minnesota Vikings	A-	DeVante Parker would have also made sense for Vikings over Trae Waynes (maybe more sense, as Teddy Bridgewater needs more weapons), but Waynes is a very good player at a need position. He has some question marks, but Mike Zimmer will coach him up. Eric Kendricks was a great addition at linebacker in the second round. Danielle Hunter was a steal in the third round. T.J. Clemmings dropped into fourth round due to injury concerns but could be steal of the draft if he stays healthy. Stefon Diggs in the fifth round could become dynamic playmaker at wideout for Vikes. Minny got a lot better in this draft.
Cleveland Browns	B+	The Browns eschewed flash for substance in this draft. Danny Shelton and Cam Erving solidified lines on either side of the ball in first round. Nate Orchard is a nice addition rushing the passer in second round. Duke Johnson gives the team a dynamic weapon in the backfield in the third round. Given the Browns desperately need playmakers on offense, Johnson was a steal for the team. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu in the seventh round could be the steal of the draft. He would have been a second-rounder at worst were it not for a late-season knee injury. The Browns addressed a ton of needs and added a ton of depth in this draft.
New Orleans Saints	B+	The Saints continued to upgrade their offensive line with Andrus Peat selection. Stephone Anthony might have been a slight reach at end of first round but not enough that the Saints should be dinged for selecting him. He's a major upgrade at linebacker. Hau'oli Kikaha is nice value in second round, while Garrett Grayson becomes heir apparent for Drew Brees in third round. P.J. Williams could be huge steal and major contributor at corner if he can stay out of trouble. New Orleans went heavy on defensive prospects on Saturday, and given how it played on that side of the ball in 2014, it was a wise choice.
Miami Dolphins	B-	The Dolphins filled a huge need with great value in first round. DeVante Parker is a top talent who slipped further on the board than he should have. Ryan Tannehill has his No. 1 wide receiver now, and Dolphins have solid weapons in passing game with Jordan Cameron and Jarvis Landry already in town. Jordan Phillips is a huge boom-or-bust selection, as he has crazy athletic ability but disappears for stretches in games. Jay Ajayi in the fifth round is an awesome value, and if he can stay healthy, he could be third-best back in this draft class. Dolphins certainly filled most of their needs, though Parker and Ajayi were the best picks.
San Diego Chargers	C	The Chargers moved up in trade with Niners to get to No. 15, so that has to be factored into overall grade. Still, Melvin Gordon is an electrifying talent who fits perfectly in this offense. Denzel Perryman is a tackling machine and likely a Day 1 starter at linebacker. Craig Mager will bolster depth in secondary. Four of five picks were on defense, so Philip Rivers will largely have to do with the offensive unit he had a year ago. Failing to bolster offensive line with young talent could prove to be an oversight.
Houston Texans	B-	Kevin Johnson is a solid player, but was he a reach? It feels like it a bit. He gives the Texans a solid trio at corner, however, a must in a division with Andrew Luck. Benardrick McKinney is a big, physical linebacker who will improve run defense. Jaelen Strong will prove to be one of the steals of the draft in third round. There's nothing of note on final day, though the Texans added another LSU running back to join Alfred Blue behind Arian Foster in Kenny Hilliard.
San Francisco 49ers	B	Arik Armstead is a physical freak, but he's an inconsistent player. The Niners will hope he can become the next Justin Smith on their defense. The team also picked up a 2015 fourth-rounder and 2016 fifth-rounder, all while getting the player it wanted in the first place. Not too shabby. Jaquiski Tartt was another player the Niners targeted at safety, while Eli Harold was a steal in third round. After retooling defense in first three rounds, they selected six offensive players and a punter on Saturday. Former Oklahoma quarterback and future tight end or fullback Blake Bell was an intriguing pick
Kansas City Chiefs	C-	Marcus Peters is a risk after being booted off of Washington's team last year for disciplinary issues, but he's a top-10 talent on the field, making him worth the risk here. Head coach Andy Reid will be hoping Peters plays nice in Kansas City and becomes a Pro Bowl corner. Mitch Morse is a versatile offensive lineman. Chris Conley is a great kid but was a reach. Steven Nelson is a physical corner and perhaps a bit of Peters insurance. The Chiefs added defensive depth and weapons in the passing game on Saturday.
Philadelphia Eagles	B	Eagles fans will be disappointed their team couldn't get Mariota, but Nelson Agholor is a perfect fit. A similar player to Jeremy Maclin, Agholor is a heady, consistent player with excellent hands and versatility. Eagles went with high-character versatile players across the board. Traded up to get Eric Rowe, who can play corner or safety and likely slots in as a free safety in Philly, especially after the team drafted two corners on Saturday. Jordan Hicks is a leader at linebacker, though he's injury prone and the Eagles aren't exactly lacking for options at linebacker now. Can likely shift outside as well, however. Eagles certainly filled needs in draft, though not adding O-line depth was a surprise.
Cincinnati Bengals	B	Cedric Ogbuehi would have been a top-10 talent were it not for a late-season knee injury, so solid selection from the Bengals, who can be patient with him as he recovers. But then they added Jake Fisher in the second round, another tackle. Cincy clearly kept an eye on the future with those selections. Tyler Kroft was a luxury pick at tight end, while Paul Dawson brings some character concerns but is a very good, instinctive linebacker. Josh Shaw was a nice value in fourth round.
Pittsburgh Steelers	B	Steelers needed to add some bite to defense, so Bud Dupree was a steal for them here, especially with Jarvis Jones starting to look like a bust. Senquez Golson is a playmaker, though lack of size and strength is important to note. Sammie Coates in third round is boom-or-bust selection, as he has dynamic athleticism but tended to be a one-trick pony as a deep threat in college. Gerod Holliman was a steal in the seventh round, though he must become a more physical player to stick at safety in the AFC North. Steelers wisely addressed defense with three secondary selections and two picks for defensive line.
Denver Broncos	B-	Shane Ray has some concerns given his toe injury and a recent marijuana citation, but man, can Ray rush the passer. He, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware give the Broncos a scary pass-rushing unit. The Broncos did give up a 2015 fifth-rounder, a 2016 fifth-rounder and guard Manny Ramirez to get him, however. Ty Sambrailo on the line and tight end Jeff Heuerman aren't the sexiest picks but fill needs. Broncos did well to add depth on both lines and in the secondary.
Arizona Cardinals	C	Though he has a high ceiling, this was somewhat risky pick in Round 1, as D.J. Humphries is athletic but needs more polish. Markus Golden is a nice defensive end, but there were better options on board. David Johnson gives Arizona a back to pair with Andre Ellington. Three defensive lineman picks make sense for a team that needs to retool in that department. Still, it was a shaky draft for Arizona.
Carolina Panthers	C	It's just as easy to like Shaq Thompson as it is to question the need for him in Carolina, where linebacker is far from a need position. Could he play some safety? He likely will be a special teams player in rookie season, but the Panthers could find a unique role for him in defense. Devin Funchess gives the Panthers another big receiving option, but would a deep threat have made more sense? It added depth in third day, but it was not Carolina's finest draft, at least not on first glance.
Baltimore Ravens	B	Breshad Perriman is a logical replacement for Torrey Smith, who departed in free agency, though would Devin Smith have been a better deep-threat option at wideout here? Either way, the Ravens addressed pretty big need. Maxx Williams gives the team a much-needed upgrade at tight end. Carl Davis adds depth on the defensive line. Running back Javorius Allen, tight end Nick Boyle, guard Robert Myers and wideout Darren Waller continued offensive makeover on Day 3.
Dallas Cowboys	B	Surprisingly, the Cowboys didn't draft a single running back, arguably the team's biggest need. Are they holding out hope they can trade for Adrian Peterson? Perhaps. Byron Jones was a good value at a need position. Randy Gregory has plenty of character concerns and needs to bulk up and get better against run, but he's a great athlete and a force rushing the passer—great value in second round despite risks. Added depth on O-line with Chaz Green and Laurence Gibson. It was an interesting draft for the Cowboys.
Detroit Lions	B-	The Lions got picks to move back in a trade with Niners, so that bolsters the grade. They also got a high-character guard in Laken Tomlinson to bolster the line. Ameer Abdullah was a great selection; he will be a nice replacement for Reggie Bush. Alex Carter was a slight reach. Lions had solid but unspectacular draft, filling a lot of needs across the board.
Indianapolis Colts	C	Huh? With several glaring holes on defense, the Colts selected a wide receiver in first round. Phillip Dorsett is a dynamic athlete and a good wide receiver, but did Luck need another weapon at the expense of the defense? Probably not. At least they addressed defense with corner D'Joun Smith and defensive lineman Henry Anderson. The Colts ultimately filled a lot of needs, namely on defense, but in a deeper wide receiver class, the Dorsett pick was a bit of a head-scratcher with so many holes on defense.
Green Bay Packers	C+	Damarious Randall is a playmaker and the best cover safety in this draft, but the Packers had bigger needs than safety. Of course, they'll probably convert him to corner, but that still makes this a risky decision in the first round. This was a questionable pick. Corner Quinten Rollins and wideout Ty Montgomery were solid additions, however. Jake Ryan in the fourth round and Brett Hundley in the fifth were nice values.
New England Patriots	B-	The Patriots stayed put to add a player who fits their system nicely, and some folks thought they might trade up to select Malcom Brown. Jordan Richards and Geneo Grissom were pretty big reaches, however. Trey Flowers was the best value in Pats' draft class. With 11 picks, the Pats certainly filled plenty of needs and added a lot of depth.
Buffalo Bills	C-	Ronald Darby is a great athlete, but his lack of physicality is a concern. John Miller adds depth on the line. Karlos Williams offers depth at running back, though he also has some off-field concerns. It was not a very sexy draft for the Bills from top to bottom.
Seattle Seahawks	B-	The trade that netted Jimmy Graham has to be considered, as that move changes the Seahawks offense in exciting ways. Frank Clark has had a ton of off-field issues in his past, making him a huge question mark. Tyler Lockett is a great fit for this offense and could be what Percy Harvin was supposed to be for Seattle. The Seahawks added nice offensive line and secondary depth on Saturday. On paper, it doesn't look like the strongest draft class, but the Seahawks have proved their doubters wrong on more than one occasion.

Cleveland Browns

Danny Shelton will likely start at nose tackle immediately and will dramatically improve Cleveland's run defense. Fans of the team probably wanted DeVante Parker at No. 12, but Shelton will quietly have more of an impact for the team than Parker would have if they had drafted him. 

At No. 19 they added Cameron Erving, the eventual starting center and a player who can literally play anywhere on the line, so he'll either provide depth this year or perhaps play guard this year. Either way, the Browns have major insurance for any offensive lineman in the event of an injury this year. 

Nate Orchard was underrated coming into the draft and will provide a major boost on the edge, while Duke Johnson gives Cleveland's running back group some much-needed sizzle. The Browns desperately needed playmakers on offense, and they got that in Johnson. 

Xavier Cooper, the team's other third-round selection, should factor in as a part of the team's defensive-line rotation. 

No, these weren't sexy picks. But it's hard to look at Cleveland's draft and not think the team got a lot better, namely in the trenches, for the 2015 season. 

Houston Texans

The Texans likely snagged three immediate starters in the first three rounds in this draft.

Kevin Johnson can play either outside or in the slot, so he'll immediately see a lot of time in Houston's secondary. Benardrick McKinney will likely pair with Brian Cushing at insider linebacker right off the bat. And Jaelen Strong will line up opposite of DeAndre Hopkins and give either Ryan Mallett or Tom Savage a nice target (I think Brian Hoyer was brought in to be a veteran backup, not the starter). 

These aren't the sexiest trio of players that were selected early in the draft, no. But they are players who are good enough to make an immediate impact at need positions for Houston, and could be the difference between Houston golfing in January and playing postseason football. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars finally got a pass-rusher to complement a solid interior of the line. Gus Bradley is going to have a lot of fun finding unique ways to get Dante Fowler, Jr. after the quarterback, and it wouldn't be shocking if he was the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Speaking of the defensive line, Michael Bennett will find himself in the rotation at defensive tackle in his rookie season. Bradley will get the most out of the sixth-round pick, who is undoubtedly talented though he was a bit inconsistent at Ohio State. He picked up his game in 2014, however, and Bradley will turn him into a regular contributor in the NFL. 

Drafting T.J. Yeldon in the second round gives the team another option at running back alongside Denard Robinson, and he'll likely take over the starting gig at some point next season. A.J. Cann is going to help open up plenty of holes for him, likely taking over as the team's starting center. 

Finally, Rashad Greene joins a stable of young wideouts in Jacksonville. He won't be a starter in his rookie season, but he could work his way into three- and four-wideout sets.